Stairway for fire-escapes, &amp;c.



No. 878,863. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

J. M. BRAZILL.

STAIRWAY FOR FIRE BSGAPBS, 8:0. APPLICATION FILED Jun: 3. 1907.

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No. 878,863. PATENTEDTEB. 11, 1908. A

- J. M. BRAZILL.

STAIRWAY FOR FIRE ESOAPES, 6w. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3 1901.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JAMES M. BRAZILL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

STAIRWAY FOR FIRE-ESCAPES, &0.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BRAZILL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented an Improved Stairway for Fire-Escapes and SimilarPurposes, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of fire escapes in which an outsidestairway is made use of, such stairway connected to the walls of thebuilding and supported therefrom and extending from the upper story to apoint practically on a level with the first floor above the ground floorof the building, and pertains more especially to a stairway leading fromsuch lower platform to theground.

The object of my present invention is to provide a stairway forconnecting such a lower platform of a fire escape with the ground whichshall be free from the many objections found in such stairways asheretofore constructed. usually heretofore been arranged to either slidevertically upon suitable guides and balanced by suitable counterweightsso that a downward pressure exerted upon the stairway itself would forcethe same downwardly until it reached the ground and'was in operativeposition connecting the lower platform to the ground,or such stairwayshave been hinged at their upper end to the platform and arranged to beswungon such hinged connection upwardly and outwardly far enough to beout of the way of pedestrians on the street. To this latter arrangementthere are serious objections in that it requires considerable spacealong the side or fronttof the building where the fire escape islocated, and when such hinged stairway is swung downwardly so as tooccupy practically a horizontal position a very heavy weight is requiredto counterbalance it and this same objection obtains in regard to theamount of the counterweight of that class in which the stairway isarranged to slide vertically upon suitable guides. These objections Ihave overcome in the construction herein shown and described consistingessentially of a stairway comprising two sections, the upper sectionpivotally connected to the lower platform and arranged to swingoutwardly and upwardly on such pivotal connection and with the lowersection arranged to slide longitudinally upon the upper section wherebythe distance required in which to swing the Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed .Tune 3, 1907- Serial No. 377-113.

Such stairways have Patented Feb. 1 1, 1908.

space vertically which would be required for a stairway as usuallyconstructed in one section.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my present invention asapplied to a fire escape of substantially the style or pattern shown ina former patent of mine issued September 2, 1902, and numbered 708120,although, however, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself tothe application of my present invention to any particular style of fireescape.

Such drawings are as follows :-Figure 1 is a face view of such-a fireescape as mentioned with. my stairway connected thereto and shown as inits operative position leading from the lower platform to the ground.Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts as seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sideview of' the lower platform only of such a fire escape showing my stairway with the lower section thereof as having been moved part-wayupwardly on the u er section. Fig. 4-shows the parts seen in ig. 3 andwith the lower section moved to its final position relatively to and onthe upper section and with the u per section moved outwardly and upwardy to practically a horizontal position. Fig. 5 shows the parts as seenin Figs. 3 and 4 and with my stairway moved to its final inoperativeposition. Fig. 6 is-an enlarged detail view of the supporting andguiding rod connections for my stairway. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailview of the lower platform connection to the stairway. Figs. 8 and 9 areside and face views respectively of the upper end of one of the sides orstring pieces of the lower section of my stairway showing details in theconstruction thereof as will be explained.

Similar letters refer to similar throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,-P is the lower and P the upper platform of afire escape constructed in accordance with my United parts States PatentNo. 708120, dated September 2, 1902, and a, a a and a are the fourvertical members of angle iron constituting the outer supports for theseveral platforms and for the stairways connecting such platforms.Articulating with ears 0 secured to the lower latform P and projectingoutwardly therefrom is seen the upper section U of my stairway proper.This upper section U of my stairway consists, as indicated, of side orstring pieces u it, two on each side connected by tread supports 8 ofthe usual angle iron and upon such tread supports there are secured theusual treads or steps 8 The up per and lower string pieces 11. u on eachside of this stairway are connected at their upper ends by suitableplates 1) and at their lower ends also by lates b These plates 6 haveholes therein y means of which they articulate u on a bolt passingthrough a suitable hole therefor in each one of the ears 0 pro- 'jectingoutwardly from the frame. work of the fire escape opposite the lowerplatform P. Curved guide rods 9 are secured to the plates 1) at theirupper ends and also to the plates 6 at their lower ends, one on eachside of the stairway U. These guide rods 9 are located a slight distanceabove and run parallel with the string pieces u of the upper sec tion ofthe stairway U, and the lower ends of these guide rods g are carriedaround under and beneath the upper section U of my stairway, and onthese guide rods there is arranged to slide the supporting rod it havingeyes or loops formed at its ends to receive and slide upon such guiderods 9, which in turn are bent inwardly at their ends and secured on theinside of the plates b and b. This rod n is secured in the upper end ofthe lower section L of my stairway in the following manner, viz: Asshown in Figs. 8 and 9,

- the side or string pieces Z Z on each side of this lower stairway areconnected'at their upper ends by plates f and in these plates f thereare seen slots, which, cooperating with notches in the upper edge of thelower string pieces Z Z, serve to retain this rod n revolubly in itsposition near the lower edge of the lower stairway L and at its upperend. This lower stairway L is constructed substantially in the same wayas the upper sec tion U and has the side or string pieces Z Z havingconnecting pieces f at the top and f at the bottom on each side, and tothis lower stairway L there are secured the hooks 1) projecting upwardlyand rearwardly and operating in the manner to be explained, to retainthe lower section L of my stairway in its proper position when folded upand out of use. The proportion of the parts thus far described is suchas to permit of the lower stairway being slid outwardly and upwardlyupon the upper section U, in the manner indicated in Flg. 3, from whichposition it may be still further moved so that the upper and lowerstairways occupy positions relatively to each other, such as indicatedin Figs. 4 and 5. Guide rods 6 are suitably supported, by means of ears0 0, upon the vertical members a and a, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2,and upon these guide rods 6 there is arranged to slide a cross headconsisting in the plates h and h suitably secured together, as indicatedin Fig. 6, by the ring bolts articulating with the upper ends of thelinks 15 15. These links if t articulate at their lower ends withsuitable bolts therefor in the plates 6 at the lower end of the uppersection U of my stairway. The length of these guide rods 6 between theirsupports is such as to permit of the upper section U of my stairwaybeing raised to the position indicated in Fig. 5, in which position itis held by means of a suitable weight w having a cord 1" attachedthereto working over suitable pulleys 00 a; supported at the top oftheframe work of the fire escape and connected to the bent plate h of thecross head constituted by plates h and h and arranged to slide upon theguide rods 6 in the manner already described and clearly indicated inFigs. 1, 2 and 6. Sleeves e e are seen at the lower ends of rods 6 e tosupport the plate It above the ears 0 0.

Attention is especially called to the curved lower ends of the guiderods 9 whereby the lower section L of my stairway, when it is permittedto slide down upon such rods, is caused to assume the position indicatedin Figs. 1 and 2 so as to constitute with such upper section U of thestairway a continuous stairway from the platform P to the ground.Attention is also called to the fact that owing to the tendency of amoving body to continue its motion in a straight line and also to thefurther tendency of such a body when deflected from such course bycontact with any other body at a point outside of its center of gravity,to simultaneously rotate upon an axis passing through its center ofgravity, the action of the lower section of my stairway in sliding downfrom the upper section to its operative position with its lower end uponthe ground, is as follows :Such lower section, just prior to itsreaching the ground and owing to the curved construction of the lowerend of the guide rods g, is caused to swing nearly upon its center ofgravity and its center longitudinally in such a way, that, as its upperend assumes its normal operative position in alinement with the uppersection of the stairway U, its lower end is forced upwardly andoutwardly so as to break the force of the fall of the lower section Land cause it to strike the ground, pavement or sidewalk with very littleforce, and then such lower section of my stairway, swinging upon itssupports consisting in the rod n and the lower ends of the curved rodsg, drops into its normal position, with its lower end resting upon theground, with very little force. The

hook v, seen at the lower end of the lower escape by engaging the lowertread of the upper section in-the manner-indicated in Flgs. 4L and 5.

To provide hand rails adapted to be engaged by the hand of one passingup or down the stairway where the links t are not'available, I make useof the rodsor bars i having eyes formed in their curved up er endsencircling and adapted to slide on t e rods t. These rods '5 are curvednear their lower ends, as indicated, and have at their extreme lowerends. eyes formed thereon by means of which they articulate uponsuitable bolts or screws threaded to the bottom" plates f 1 of the lowerstairway. These rods t, when the stairway is in its operative position,as indicated in Fig. 2, are engaged by the clips d secured to the stringpieces I on each side of the lower section L of the stairway and arethereby held against displacement. Adjustably secured upon the links tare seen collars j adapted to engage under and sustain the upper ends ofthe rods 'i.

The several positions for the rods i are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5for the corresponding positions of the sections of my stairway hereinindicated. The collars j may be so adjusted as to sustain the lowerstairway L in operative position even should the lower end thereof notextend quite to the ground or pavement, and in this case of course therods i should be of sufficient size to normally retain the curvature andconformation thereof, as indicated in the drawmgs.

When my stairway is out of use, the parts are moved to the positionindicated in'Fig. 5 where they may be securely held by means of amoderate weight w, owing to' the fact that very little effort isrequired to retain such parts in such a vertical position, the weight ofthe stairway being carried by its pivotal support at the lower end ofthe system when 1n that position and located opposite the lower platformP.

In case of fire or when for any other reason it is desired to use thestairway, the operator upon reaching the platform P pushes outwardlyupon the two sections of the stairway, forcing them from the positionindicated in Fig. 5 very nearly to the position indicated in Fig. 4 whenthe weight of the parts causesthem to assume successively the positionsindicated in Figs. 3 and 2. When it is desired to fold the stairway up,the lower section L thereof is moved outwardly and upwardly upon theupper section Uto the position indicated in Fig. 3 by a person standingupon the ground and held there, while at the same time an operator,standing upon one of the upper platforms P of the fire escape, bypulling downwardly upon the rope 7'. will cause the parts to assume thepositions indicated in Fig. 5 in which positions the weight w willsecurely retain them.

The face of the Wall of the building to which my fire escape is attachedis represented in Fig. 2 by the vertical line at When my stairway is inits operative position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the con nectinglinks t and also the rods or links "i constitute hand rails readilywithin the reach of a person descending u on the stairway.

The inner edges of the horizontal members of the ears 0 may be providedwith notches, not shown, for engaging and holding the links If toprevent their rattling when my stairway is in its inoperative position.

What I claim is 1. A stairway for fire escapes and similar purposescomprising; an upper section and a pivotal support therefor; a lowersection arranged to slide over on to and practically parallel with suchupper section and means for holding such upper section in a verticalposition on such pivotal support with such lower'stairway adjacentthereto and parallel therewith. V

2. A stairway for fire escapes and similar purposes comprising; an uppersection and a pivotal support therefor; a lower section arranged toslide over on to and practically parallel with such upper section;connecting links articulating with such upper stairway at its lower end;suitable guiding mechanism for the upper ends of such links and meansconnected to such links for holding such upper stairway in a verticalposition resting on such pivotal support and with such lower stairwayadj acnt thereto and parallel therewith.

3. A stairway comprisin two sections, one arranged to slide upon t eother and the lower section arranged to slide downwardly upon the uppersection so as to permit its lower end to reach a suitable platform andmeans for lessening the impact of such lower section against suchplatform comprising means for moving the lower end thereof outwardly andupwardly just before reaching such platform.

4. A stairway for fire escapes and other similar purposes comprising; anupper section; a pivotal support therefor at its upper end; a lowersection arranged to slide longitudinally upon such upper section andmeans for lessening the impact of the lower end of such lower sectionagainst its support when in operative position comprising means formoving such lower end of such lower section outwardly and upwardly justprior to its reaching such support.

5. A stairway; comprising two sections the one arranged to slide uponthe other, the lower section arranged to slide downwardly reaching suchsupport.

upon the upper section so as to permit its lower end toreach a suitableplatform and means for moving the lower end of such lower sectionoutwardly and upwardly just before reaching such platform, such meanscomprising guide rods connected to such upper stairway and arranged todeflect the upper end of such lower stairway downwardly into alinementwith the lower end of such upper stairway.

6. In a stairway for fire escapes and other similar purposes; means forguiding the stairway obliquely downwards so that its lower end may restupon a suitable support and means for moving the lower end of suchstairway outwardly and upwardly just before 7. In a stairway for fireescapes and other similar purposes; means for guiding the stairwayobliquely downwards so that its lower'end may rest upon a suitablesupport and means for moving the lower end of such stairway outwardlyand upwardly just before reaching such support, such means comprisingsuitable guiding mechanism for the upper end of such stairway operatingto deflect such upper end downwardly just before the lower end of suchstairway reaches such support therefor.

8. In a stairway for fire escapes and similar purposes comprising twoconnected sections; a pivotal support for the upper end of the uppersection of such stairway; a pair of links articulating with the lowerend of the upper section of the stairway; a suitable support for theupper end of such links adapted to retain the same with such stairway ineither its operative or inoperative position; a second pair of linkspivotally connected to the lower stairway near its lower end and adaptedat their upper ends to slide upon such first named links.

9. In a stairway for fire escapes and simi-' lar purposes comprising twoconnected sections; a pivotal support for the upper end of the uppersection of such stairway; a pair of links articulating with the lowerend of the upper section of the stairway; a suitable support for theupper end of such links adapted to retain the same with such stairway ineither its operative or inoperative position; a second pair of linkspivotally connected to the lower stairway near its lower end and adaptedat their upper ends to slide upon such first named links, such upper andlower links adapted to sustain the stairway in operative positionindependently of any other support for the lower end of either of suchsections thereof.

10. In a stairway for fire escapes and similar purposes comprising twoconnected sections a pivotal support for the upper end of the uppersection of such stairway; a pair of links articulating with the lowerend of the upper section of the stairway; a suitable support for theupper end of such links adapted to retain the same with such stairway ineither its operative or inoperative position; a second pair of linkspivotally connected to the lower stairway near its lower end and adaptedat their upper ends to slide uponsuch first named links connected to thelower end of the upper stairway, such links adapted to serve as handrails for the Stairways.

JAMES M. BRAZILL.

Witnesses:

OSBORNE F. GURNEY, LOTTIE W001).

